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On April 4, 2011, FDA launched a new Web search to make it easier for consumers to search for food and other product recalls. The search results are in the form of a table that organizes information on recalls since 2009, by date, product name, product description, reason for recall, and recalling firm. The table also provides a link to the news release for each recall. This new display of recall information differs from the old display, which provided links in a scroll-down format. Before launching the new search function, FDA consulted with a range of interested stakeholders on how to communicate recall information most effectively. FDA believes the new display of search results will be much easier for consumers to use. Here is a link to the news release announcing the new Web search: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm249437.htm
and a link to the search Web page: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/default.htm.

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I am pleased to announce that many portions of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) website are now available in Spanish. This new resource for the Spanish-speaking community will provide key information to our stakeholders in our common goal of reducing the tremendous toll of illness and death from tobacco use through FDA’s new role in tobacco product regulation. By increasing access to our content to the Spanish-speaking public we not only increase the reach of our message, but also make further in-roads into communities that play a key role in tackling this important public health issue.

Over the last several months, I’ve heard from many stakeholders in a number of ways about the overall need for CTP to provide key tobacco product information in different languages. This was echoed by a request from a woman named Sarah who submitted a request for low-literacy handouts in multiple languages to our CTP Tobacco Ideas Forum (which is a novel way for the public to submit a thought and then have it voted on by other stakeholders). Input like this from the general public, combined with what we’ve learned through many other communication channels, has led to the launch of this Spanish-version website. The first of several plain language handouts similar to what Sarah, and many others have requested, as well as a variety of free resources and tools are now available. These include:

Federal resources on youth tobacco prevention, effective treatment for nicotine addiction, and tobacco research and statistics;

And much more!

I encourage you to check out www.fda.gov/tabaco and let us know what you think. I also hope you will contribute to the CTP Tobacco Ideas Forum. We are listening and want your ideas to improve our efforts to effectively disseminate information about FDA tobacco regulations and to develop innovative ways to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco products use.

Did you miss the FDA Basics webinar about FDA’s vital role in ensuring the safety of the nation’s blood supply? You can learn about FDA’s five overlapping layers of blood safety and review rules that are designed to make sure we have a safe and available blood supply, including rules related to donor screening and testing of blood for blood-borne infectious agents.

As part of FDA Basics, FDA is hosting a webinar where you can learn more FDA’s role in ensuring the safety of the nation’s blood supply. The featured speaker, Richard Davey, MD, Director of the Division of Blood Applications, Office of Blood Research and Review in FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, will discuss how the agency safeguards the nation’s blood supply and protects the five million people who receive blood transfusions annually. Dr. Davey will provide an overview of these safeguards and will focus on the donor screening process and the testing of blood for blood-borne infectious agents. After the presentation, there will an opportunity to ask questions.

The free 30 minute webinar will be held Tuesday, February 15th, at 2 p.m. ET.

There are a limited number of spots available for the webinar. Materials from the webinar will also be available on the FDA web site.

Click here for more information about the webinar, including instructions about how to join the webinar.

Did you miss the FDA Basics webinar about how FDA reviews vaccine safety after a vaccine is approved? Do you know why it is important to have different types of systems to perform safety surveillance for approved vaccines?

Check out the “What’s New” box on the FDA Basics home page to download materials from the webinar. We have posted a link to view and listen to the 30 minute webinar as well as posted a link to download a copy of the presentation slides.

Did you know that FDA’s review of vaccine safety doesn’t stop once a vaccine is approved? Why is it important to have different types of systems to perform safety surveillance for approved vaccines?

As part of FDA Basics, FDA is hosting a webinar where you can learn more. The featured speaker, Andrea Sutherland, MD, MPH, Msc, a medical officer in the Office of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, will give an overview about vaccine safety surveillance, including the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (or VAERS), and efforts underway to improve safety monitoring. After the presentation, there will an opportunity to ask questions.

The free 30 minute webinar will be held on Tuesday, July 13, at 2 p.m. ET.

For more information about the webinar, including instructions about how to join the webinar, click here.

There are a limited number of spots available for the webinar. Webinar materials will be posted on the FDA Web site.

On Tuesday, June 15, FDA launched a web page where you can find summaries of safety information about recently approved drugs and a brief discussion of any steps FDA may be taking to address any identified safety issues. New drugs approved after September 27, 2007 will receive a safety summary within roughly two years of approval. The summaries address safety risks that were not identified during a drug's development or prior to FDA approval. FDA plans to publish summaries on a quarterly basis.

The first set of safety summaries for 26 products approved in 2008 can be found here.

You can find questions and answers about FDA's plan to post safety summaries here.